2018-05-09T15:59:00Z

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• For the past week, I've made quick, diner-quality breakfasts before work thanks to Krups' Belgian waffle maker.
• The waffles came together in a little over 20 minutes — perfectly crispy on the outside, and fluffy on the inside.
• Because the griddles are nonstick and pop out, cleaning up after breakfast only took a couple of minutes. 
• The Krups waffle maker is the best overall waffle maker you can buy, according to Insider Picks' buying guide. I agree with the assessment. You can read more about it and other worthy waffle makers here.

Few forces are stronger than the desire for brunch on a Sunday morning, but the idea of getting out of bed on your day off to wait a half hour for the opportunity to spend $18 on food you could make at home is probably one of them. For the past week, I've been testing a waffle maker from Krups, which might change my brunch (and weekday breakfast) game for good. 

Unlike pancakes, crepes, french toast, or eggs, waffles actually require a specific tool to make; there's just no way to get the right shape without it. Buying a single-use kitchen tool when your counter and cabinet space is so precious may seem counterintuitive, but if you're looking to up your breakfast game, it's worth making an exception for a dedicated waffle maker.

Until last week I had almost no experience making waffles, but Krups made me feel like a seasoned pro in no time at all. After plugging in the waffle maker, I turned the front dial that controls how hot the griddles get to "3." There are five heating levels total — the lower ones will produce waffles that are light and fluffy, while the higher ones will make waffles that are dark and crispy.

Sticking with the third heating level left me with waffles that had a slightly crispy crust, but a fluffy center.

The waffle maker let out a fairly loud beep when it reached the right temperature, which meant it was time to open its top lid, pour in the batter, and close it. Krups suggested using half a cup of batter to fill each of the four waffle molds, but I just eyeballed it. My personal tip is to make sure your batter is smooth, as clumps can ruin the consistency of your waffles and throw off their cooking time.

Amazon

With the lid down, the waffle maker started cooking and let out another beep when it was done. That's it. There was no flipping, no anxiously looking at the clock and trying to figure out when to open the lid, I just waited for a beep.

My biggest concern before making my first batch of waffles was that it'd be hard to get them out of their molds without breaking them or making a mess. Thankfully, the nonstick coating Krups uses on its griddles was good enough that I was easily able to pop all four waffles out using just my fork. 

The whole process, from plugging in to plating took a little over 20 minutes, which was impressive given the results: fresh, tasty, diner-style waffles. Only one waffle I made came out imperfectly, but that's because I was trying to see whether I could mix the batter in a pint glass without making lumps. I couldn't.

Cleaning up the waffle maker was also surprisingly easy. Once it cooled down I pushed a little button on the side of the bottom part and lifted the lower griddle and it popped up; removing the griddle on the lid worked the same way. You can clean the griddles in a dishwasher, but I used soap and water in my sink, and it seemed to work just fine.

Although they'll probably stay a weekend treat, I made made a fresh batch of waffles before going to work one morning, and it didn't dramatically extend my daily routine. If you're looking for an easy way to make fresh, weekday breakfasts, or want brunch food without leaving your house, this $50 waffle maker will pay for itself after a few uses.

KRUPS Adjustable Temperature Belgian Waffle Maker with Removable Plates, $51.55, available at Amazon

Brandt Ranj Brandt is a tech reporter for Business Insider. He previously worked as an associate editor for ReadRetro.com. He graduated with a degree in journalism from Le Moyne College in 2013.  Read more Read less

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